Solution providers that build IT infrastructures will find fewer data centers to work in as their customers move operations to third-party providers. The number of data centers will soon slide, but the average data center size will continue to grow.

Lenovo, fresh off the heels of its acquisition of IBM's x86-based server business, is planning to capitalize on its growing infrastructure presence to change how it deals with managed services and cloud partners, including adding new financing and pay-as-you-grow options.

An early upgrade cycle for Windows Server 2003 helped SMB distribution stalwart D&H Distributing to report a 13.3 percent increase in sales to more than $2 billion for the six-month period ended Oct. 31.

The challenges for agents and VARs in the large business sector are numerous and include delivering simplicity, value and savings born out of consolidating communications providers and optimizing services.

IDC said at the NexGen Cloud conference that pressures on IT administrators to deal with ever-increasing mobility and data generation is causing data center administrators to look closely at when to add software-defined technology.

HP is expanding the services available via its channel partners, including new Datacenter Care services to automate IT infrastructures and the ability to offer SAP HANA on a cloud-like pay-as-you-go model.

HP CEO Meg Whitman spoke with CRN about HP's plans to split into two new Fortune 50 companies, the Dell claims it would cause turmoil for customers and partners and the potential of a VMware spinoff by EMC.

HP CEO Meg Whitman says she is relying on some of the company's 'best leaders to step up to help HP succeed' as it moves forward with a 'thoughtful and transparent' process to split into two new Fortune 50 companies.

Bill Veghte, who has been overseeing HP's enterprise business, is being moved into a new role heading up the separation management office for the creation of the new Hewlett-Packard Enterprise company.